Can I dispute a subscription charge with my bank?

Yes. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), you can dispute charges on credit cards within 60 days of the billing statement. For debit cards, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) gives you 60 days but with fewer protections. Always try to cancel directly with the company first.

Will I win a chargeback against a subscription company?

Chargebacks for subscriptions have a win rate of about 60-80% when you have documentation that you attempted to cancel. Key evidence: screenshots of cancellation attempts, confirmation emails, chat transcripts, and call logs. Without evidence, your chances drop significantly.

Can a company send me to collections after a chargeback?

Technically yes, but it's rare for subscription companies. Most subscription services write off the charge after a successful chargeback. Companies like gyms or telecom providers with contracts are more likely to pursue collections, especially if there's an early termination fee involved.

How long does a subscription charge dispute take?

Most banks issue a provisional credit within 10 business days while they investigate. The full investigation can take 30-90 days. Credit card disputes are generally faster (30-60 days) than debit card disputes (up to 90 days).

What reason should I give when disputing a subscription charge?

The best reasons are: "Cancelled service but still being charged," "Services not as described," or "Unauthorized recurring charge." Avoid saying you simply forgot to cancel — that's not a valid dispute reason.

How to Dispute Subscription Charges on Your Credit Card or Debit Card

Updated February 2026 · 7 min read

You cancelled. They kept charging. Now what?

Every month, millions of Americans get charged for subscriptions they thought they cancelled — or never signed up for in the first place. If a company won't stop billing you, a chargeback (formally called a "billing dispute") is your most powerful tool.

Here's exactly how to do it, step by step, for both credit cards and debit cards.

💡 First step: Before disputing, make sure you know every subscription you're being charged for. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to find all recurring charges — including ones you forgot about.

When You Should (and Shouldn't) Dispute

✅ Good reasons to dispute:

You cancelled but are still being charged
You never signed up for the subscription
The company makes it impossible to cancel (no cancel button, phone lines always busy)
You were charged after a free trial you cancelled
The service is significantly different from what was advertised

❌ Bad reasons to dispute (you'll likely lose):

You forgot to cancel before the renewal date
You didn't read the terms and were surprised by auto-renewal
You used the service and just want your money back
"I didn't realize it was a subscription" (if the terms were clear)

Step 1: Try to Cancel Directly First

Banks will ask if you contacted the company first. Always try to cancel through official channels before filing a dispute. This is both good practice and essential evidence.

We have 260+ step-by-step cancel guides with the exact process for each company. Use them.

If the company won't let you cancel, document everything:

📸 Screenshot the cancellation page (or where the cancel button should be)
💬 Save chat transcripts
📧 Keep all emails
📞 Write down call dates, times, and agent names

Step 2: Dispute with Your Credit Card

Credit cards have the strongest protections under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA):

Call the number on the back of your card or open your banking app
Select "Dispute a charge" or "Report a billing error"
Choose the charge(s) you want to dispute
Select reason: "Cancelled service but still charged" or "Unauthorized recurring charge"
Upload your evidence (cancellation screenshots, emails, etc.)
Submit — you'll usually get a provisional credit within 10 business days

⏰ Time limit: You must dispute within 60 days of the statement date the charge appeared on. Don't wait.

Step 3: Dispute with Your Debit Card

Debit card protections are weaker under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), but you can still dispute:

Same 60-day window to report
Bank must investigate within 10 business days (or 20 for new accounts)
Investigation can take up to 90 days (vs 60 for credit cards)
Key difference: The money is already gone from your account. Provisional credits aren't guaranteed.

Pro tip: This is why using a credit card for subscriptions is always better than debit. With credit cards, you're disputing the bank's money, not yours.

What Happens After You Dispute

Provisional credit — Most banks credit your account within 10 days while investigating
Investigation — Your bank contacts the merchant. The merchant has ~30 days to respond with evidence
Decision — If the merchant can't prove you authorized the charge, you win. If they show a signed agreement or terms you accepted, it gets complicated.
Final resolution — 30-90 days total. You'll get a letter (or notification) with the result.

How to Win: What Banks Look For

Banks decide disputes based on evidence. Stack the deck in your favor:

🏆 Strongest evidence:

Cancellation confirmation email from the company
Screenshot of a "your subscription has been cancelled" page
Chat transcript where agent confirms cancellation

👍 Good evidence:

Screenshots of failed cancellation attempts
Phone call logs showing you called their support number
Email requesting cancellation (even if they didn't respond)

👎 Weak evidence:

"I thought I cancelled" with no documentation
"I didn't know I was subscribed" (hard to prove)
Nothing — just your word vs. theirs

Major Banks: How to Dispute

Chase

App → Activity → Select charge → "Dispute"

Phone: 1-800-935-9935

Bank of America

App → Activity → Select charge → "Dispute this transaction"

Phone: 1-800-732-9194

Wells Fargo

Online → Account → Statements → "Dispute a Transaction"

Phone: 1-800-390-0533

Citi

App → Activity → Select charge → "Dispute"

Phone: 1-800-950-5114

Capital One

App → Activity → Select charge → "Report a problem"

Phone: 1-800-227-4825

Discover

App → Activity → Select charge → "Dispute charge"

Phone: 1-800-347-2683

American Express

App → Activity → Select charge → "It's not right" → "I was charged after cancelling"

Phone: 1-800-528-4800

US Bank

Online → Dispute Center → "File a Dispute"

Phone: 1-800-872-2657

What If the Company Sends You to Collections?

Rare for most subscriptions, but it can happen with gyms, telecom, and other contract-based services. If it does:

Request written validation of the debt within 30 days
If you have proof of cancellation, send it to the collections agency
File a complaint with the CFPB if they won't stop
Consider the FDCPA — collectors have strict rules about how they contact you

Prevent Future Unwanted Charges

Use virtual card numbers — Services like Privacy.com let you create burner cards for each subscription. When you cancel, the card stops working. Full guide →
Set calendar reminders before free trials end
Audit your statements monthly — or upload to JustCancel to catch everything
Use credit cards over debit for better dispute protections

🔍 Find every subscription you're paying for

Upload your bank statement and we'll show you every recurring charge — including ones you forgot about.

Scan My Statement — $5

One-time payment. No subscription. Money-back guarantee.